Trajectory regulator for projectiles.



o. DAVIS. y T.RAJEGTORY REGULATOR FOR PROJECTILES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 1911.

L, Patented Nov. 5, 191.2.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

lFFlGlfL.

CLELAND Davis, orv'rnn UNITED 'Stearns Navy.

rnaarncronvnneutnroa ron rnonc'rirns.

I Specicaton of Letters Patent. Application sled Aprile,

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

1911. Serial No. 618,764.

To all whom if may concern:

zen of the United States, and serving on boa-rd the ll S. S. Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trajecto-ry-Regulators for Projectiles;and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. y

The present invention relates to projectiles and has for its purpose to provide a means for automatically regulating the flight of projectiles YsoV as to allow for variation in their powder charges, and thus reduce' the dispersion of successive shots from the same gun, or from a number of shots of a battery which are tired at the same object.

Among the many diiiiculties that confront ordnance oiiicers in the development of modern gunnery is the dispersion of the projectiles when tired at long range, due to difierences in muzzlevelocity, which differences are caused by variations inv the ballisticv properties of the powder charges; and these ballistic variations are caused in turn' by dfferences in temperature at the time of firing,

inherent chemical Vditl'erenoes due to methods of manufacture, and ditlerences due to drying out, aging, and the manner of stowlng Vthat at 10,000 yards avariation of 50 proposes to regulate cally varying an arrangement-by 4which the contour automatically EEorts to produce uniformity in these respects, or any of them,- have not been successful. The importance of 4regularity in this respect will be appreciated by inspecting, Jfor example, the range tables for a l2 inch, fifty caliber gun, which shows (initial velocity 2700 the powder.

ootseconds, weight footseconds would .change the rangeA 280 j yards, whereas the danger space at that range for a target 3 0 feet high is only 80 yards. To overcome or neutralize these disadvantages the presentinvention the range by automatis'o as to change V-'.l`he e ect or change of the can be enable" '-a- 'closer approximation to attained Yc orresponding O bar helglxt, ve of m muzzle'veloclty.-

of projectile 70 lbs.)

the contour of the` projectile the resistance of Vits* passage f a'fstandard range being4 to a specified sight The invention is shown by way of illustratlon 1n the accompanying drawings where- 1n v A Figurel is a side elevation of a projectile equipped with the device. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section, partly in elevation, of the device per se. tional view of'fFigg taken on the line is a similar view taken on the line H of Fig. 2. Fig. V5 is adetail view of the reslstance plate. Fig. 6 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the contour cap showing the application of the invention, Fig. 7 1s a view similar to Fig. 1 showingthe reslstance devices in operative position, and; Fig. 8 is a front end elevation of Fig. 7. Referring to the structure in detail `and withV like characters representing corresponding parts throughout A designates the projectile equipped with a contour cap B,

Fig. 3 is a transverse secand for the detail construction of which cap reference may be had to my Patent #945,492

trajectory of the projectile.

The regulating devices consist each of a plate or wing'2-mounted to slide radially of the projectile between lthe guide ways 3 within the casing. The outer edge l of the slidable plate 2 hasQthe same contour as that of an arc on the. immediate adjacent transverse vsection of the. contour nap'. covering 5. closes the .casing and has its`r outer surface lying'flush with` the exterior surface of the cap B, the vpurpose whereof ,will be readily understood. L Y

The means for yautomatically effecting the release and consequent'radial movement of within which vare contained the devices-orregulating the' the plate 4 consists of a volute spring' sel cured lat one. end, by a screw 7, tothe ba-se- 8' of the casing, and at its :tree end' 9 said spring isv connl with a radially movable circuit closing device.' This. -ot' a support vl0 of ries a cross piece or strip 11 ofsimilar'material', and said members 1Q and 11 are secured to the free end 9 of the spring 6 by 'a pin l2 (-see Fig. '2)'. A metallic strip 13 is securedagainst one faceof the cross piece 11 and is provided with a' plurality of pins llt-,tsee Figi. 3) which extend' through and 'project beyond the insulated cross lpiece 1l.

. The projecting ends o said pins are adapted devicefconsis'ts hard rubber which carof the cartridges A3) that ere adapted to telen c il? :SCT rel grooves i5 are ot y ii-vf length across the lince of the iin and adjacent the upper t e groores are located studs l? decontect with the pins let, and 'n 'n connected to tiring pins 18 iediuin oit connuctor Wires 19a, ir the; iniinner ehownf rEhe the pine .le Witlikthe studs 1T ed Ato close u circuit through the wires la and the tiring pine 1S, and to this end the non-Conductor plete l@ is Vprovided with e sliding contact. rl"iie strip l5 ie connected with the battery C, the other pole of the l3nttery beine' connected to the ground (see 2). For each ot the tiring pine 1S the st el oer Ql isnrovide'd with e. cartridge in' i410.

adopted to he exploded through' the inediuni il is provided with a plurality of slots ot gradually increasing length end through which pass the pellets that act- :is

stops ,tor limiting the outward radial Inovelnient ofthe plete, hut. which when eucceesivclv blown ont oy the exploded cartridges sillon" seid plete to move outwardly7 under the influence of centrifugal torce.

miie operationr of the device is as fol-Y ;--lllhen the proiectile is fired the centigel 'torce caused or the rotation or" the projec" e c. L such e A 'ni :it or neer the point ol ine 'init-.in v or" the' projectile, n'liicn is shortly" e e projectile leeres barrel., flow the amount of detiection ot the sjntlngtor the standard initial Velocity is deternd the nienohers iti enel Q so placed centrifugal torce generated by the o the proiectile et that velocity nee t e circ` i closing device te more l? metallic strip la against which pin ltl carried in: the metallic strip l?. has

incidere ence lined by the Variation in velocity'it is desired to regulate. Assume this to he 10 toot seconds, then should the initial velocity he Within l0 toot seconds `greater than the standard the slidzihle plate 2 will not more, 70

being` held in place by the lowestv pellet 24, and the trajectory ot the shell will give the normal range. Should, however, the initial velocity reach u point- 10 toot seconds greater than the Set standard, then Contact will he inade between the tlrst stud 17 and the corresponding pin 1 3 Working in the groove l5 when the electrical circuit- Ahetweei-i the het-ter?.7 C and the primer 28 will he completed. he tired und the pelletk @el forced out of its correepondin,frl aperture in the plate 25. The plate 2 Will then he released to move outwardly b5- centrifugal force until the bottom ot the next adjacent slot brings up against its corresponding pellet, thus changing' the contour of the surface of the projectile and offering an increased resistance inits passage through the air. The amount of projection is so regulated thatv the increneed resistance retort s theflight of the projectile eothet et the sight bar heightselectecl it will traverse approximatelythe Seine distance as it it had let't the gun barrel at the standard initial velocity. contact pieces are brought into circuit clos-L ine' relation and their corresponding` pellets blown out at given increments of initial velocity.

lt is obvious that other mechanical means based on the forces generated by the-;inove ments of the projectile may `be utilized in accomplish-ing the oliject sought herein, and l do neertherefore .limit myself to thefdeteile shown, but reserve instead the right to ineke such changes es Will better adapt the invention to the purpose in View, exceptin so for ne l :ini limitedv by the claims.

that l claim is l. The combination Withey projectile,ot' n@ e device carried thereby and operable to aub.` toniatically regulate the trajeotory of the project-ile. Y

The combina-tion with a' projectile, of

ineinhers carried.-V therehy end Operable through centrifugal torce to ei'itoinsitically regulate the trajectory of the projectile;

The combination with ah'proj'ectile, vot

nietes inovahly .mounted therein and operible through centrifugal torce to move outl2() Werdly nell automatically regulate theatrajectory of the projectile.

4. lhe coinhineion with e eprojectile having e contour can, ot deifices mounted Within said cop end operehle through centiiii- 25 gel 'torce to change the contour of said cap and automatically regulate the Vtrajectory of the 'projectile 'llie coieliination with a. projectile, of

plait-es mounted therein sand oiiejelole to more he cartridge 23 Will then s@ Inslihe manner the other 95 disposed no1-lacra tra j ectiiry of the proj ecplates mounted 'within said llv regulating the i'or rarialily limiting the eX- j iid plates. and means suer i'eiiioi ing' :said stops, for the purpose t lvrl'li.

l. The combination with a projectile haw ing a contour cap; ot means tor automatically regulating the trajectory ot the projectile comprising; plates mounted Within said cap aiidradially movable through centrilugal force, stops for variably limiting the extent ot movement ci. said plates, and centritugally t'iated devices operable to ei'l'ect the succ ive release of said stops, for the purpose set forth.

S. The combination vivitli a projectile having a contour cap; of means for automaticallyT regulating the trajectory of thepi'ojectile comprising plates mounted within said cap and movable radially through centrifugal torce, stops'toipv'riahly limiting the extent or" such iiiovenfientn velectrically controlled means tor successively: removing said stt is, and centrifugallv actuated circuit closing devices assoc'iatedv .with said controlling means, tor the purpose set forth.

The combination with a projectile having a contour cap; ot means for automatically regulating the trajectory ot the projectile comprising; plates mounted Within said cap and movable radially through centrii'ugal force, stops for variably limiting the extent of such movement, cartridges disposed adj I ior successively exploding said cartridges to remove the stops, for the purpose set tortli.

lO. The combination with: a projectile having contour cap; of means tor automatically regulating the trajectory ot" the projectile comprising;

L ci.

in said cap and movable radially through centrit'ugal torce, stopstor variably limiting the extent ot such movement, cartridges adjacent said stops, electrically controlled means tor successively exploding` movable through centritu-v acent said stops, and electric means v plates mounted ivithri 'ugally actuated associated with said cartridges to remove the stops, and censaid electric circuitclosing devices controlling means, for the purpose set forth.

31. The combination having a, contour cap with a project-ile ot means tor autouiatically regulating the trajectory of the .projectile Comprising; plates mounted Within said caps and centrifugal torce, stops ing the extent of such movement, cartridges cc'ninected with movable radially through tor variably limitdisposed against said stops and adapted to oe exploded and remove said stops, primers said cartridges,

electric means for igniting the primers in succession,

and spring resisted centrifugally actuated devices provided with a plurality of Contact points adapted to successively close circuits through, and ignite said primers to explode the cartridges, as set forth.

1Q. The combination with a projectile projectile graduated slots and lvars and iiiova L ,L H ugal loire, stops toi iiaving a contour cap; maticallv regulating Y comprising within tlie'oap, a pair oi in each ot said casiiigs, a plate provided With of means for autothe trajectory ot the casings mounted t bars secured withniounted between said ble radially through centritlimiting the niovei'nent ot said plate consisting ot diagonally dis-v posed pellets inounte litting Within tlie slots in in one of said pellets, an insulated plate tridges mounted posed against the secured against said tact members mounted o-ii said a contact strip mounted on the insuplate,

d between said oars and the' plate, carljars and disbar, a plurality of coninsulated lated plate, a battery connected in circuit `with said strip, separate electric connections between said cartridges and the contact members, and a sprii ig resisted centritugally actuated device having sliding contact Wit said strip and provided with a plurality ot contact points adapted to successivelyclose circuits through explode the cartridgesl and remove lets. ttor thepurpose said elect-ric connections to the pel- 100 set forth.

In testimony whereof, l atliX my signa.-

turc, in presence oi W'itnesses two' `u/TitnesseS. CLELAND Dell/TIS.

L. M. Pannen, lCnNrs'r lViLitiivsoN.

by addressing the Washington, D, C.

U'd-f-f- Commissioner of Patents. 

